Dosing Question

[wisie]

Recently Ive been using my single portafilter instead of the double but my coffee has been quite inconsistent and find I get much better pours if using the double.

Ive tried filling the filter until its full then running my finger over the top to remove excess and smoothen it however this means I cant place the portafilter back on the machine. I also tried just using one full dose from the rocky but then it almost seems that it could do with more and the dose from the rocky isnt enough? Im just a newbie so it could be a variety of reasons no doubt but I did read on another website that others find the double easier to use also which was interesting.

If anyone could provide any tips that would be greatly appreciated

Just for reference Im using the Rancilio Silvia & Rocky (Doser)

Cheers,

Alex

[Martial_Monkey]

Re: Dosing Question

For the Silvia it is damn difficult to get a decent pour from the single you get a much better/ consistent pour from the double.

Question, are you tamping at all as your post implies you arent?

[JavaB]

Re: Dosing Question

Silvia single baskets are one of the worst singles you can get!

There are several "after market" single baskets which will fit the Silvia and are much better..... but even with these dosing and tamping are FAR more critical than with a double basket.....

Many users just use the double for this reason.

[Randy_G.]

Re: Dosing Question

I had a Silvia for 6½ years and never even put the single basket into the PF. The double is easier to use, and my theory was always that if I get a really good pull and it would only be a single I can tell you that the single basket will accentuate any difficulties you are having. Be sure that you are not overdosing- lock the PF into place and then remove before beginning the extraction it to see if the shower screen is disrupting the coffee. After that, distribution is critical- use the WDT (Weiss Distribution technique) to stir the grounds to break up clumps and evenly distribute the coffee.

[Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: Dosing Question

Although I dont own a silvia the advice should still apply

When I got my machine from Chris a Barazi he said for The double when you screed off it is flat
But for the single it should be concave as it has a ridge so bend your finger to remove a little extra grind and you should be right

Short of that weigh your grounds once you have the correct level
stick to it

kk

[Dolcimelo]

Re: Dosing Question

While I agree 100% with the foregoing about the Silvia single basket, and the advantage particularly of using the double to learn basic technique on, dont let this cause you to think that singles per se are no good. In my (vastly inferior) experience of only two years with Silvia, I can honestly say that I never, ever, got a drinkable single, whereas the doubles could be absolutely superb. However, since getting Elektra, with a well-designed single basket, I have at last discovered what a good single can deliver - basically, heaven! Elektra loves lower doses anyway, and the basket Im sure is better. But I sometimes wonder if my inferior technique also stopped me from persevering with Silvia singles.

Anyway, a good single is very different from a double (basket, that is), and worth striving for. Whether its worth trying an Elektra single basket in Silvia, or not, I dont know, but it would fit.

However, follow the advice above, and stick to doubles till you know you have the grinding and dosing method under control. Otherwise, it wont matter what basket or machine youre using.

All the best with it,
matt

[Dolcimelo]

Re: Dosing Question

I should just add, though, that if you do try the single, you will probably have to grind a bit finer as well, depending on how much you reduce the dose. Rocky loves lower doses, though, so youre in with a slim chance...

matt

[wisie]

Re: Dosing Question

Thanks for the replies all! Ill keep practising as it might not be the basket as such but more so my technique but good to hear others experiences.

Question, are you tamping at all as your post implies you arent?

Sorry yes am tamping but that being said it could even be my technique which is causing the problem.

Silvia single baskets are one of the worst singles you can get!

There are several "after market" single baskets which will fit the Silvia and are much better..... but even with these dosing and tamping are FAR more critical than with a double basket.....

Many users just use the double for this reason.

Thats interesting about after-market baskets and Ill have to look into this.

-
Woo just edited my picture

[GregWormald]

Re: Dosing Question

Im going to give my usual advice--use the double basket, drink doppio ristrettos.
Greg